Federal spending mandated by our major entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) today comprises the majority of the federal budget and will bankrupt the United States absent imminent structural reforms.
Not only do these entitlement programs drain federal spending dollars, but they don’t do a particularly good job of delivering promised services and benefits. Social Security provides a shameful rate of return for most recipients, especially when compared with private sector alternatives. And seniors and the poor are finding it increasingly difficult to find a doctor who will accept Medicare or Medicaid patients.
IPI has proposed specific, concrete solutions that would not only make these programs solvent and sustainable, but also deliver superior benefits. Entitlements should not be reformed solely for the benefit of the federal government, but also for the benefit of taxpayers and recipients.
Can Social Security and Medicare Be Counted as Part of Seniors' Wealth?
Future Social Security and Medicare benefits can't be counted as part of seniors' wealth because they don't own those accounts. But if seniors did own them, they wouldn't just be "counted" as wealthy, they would be wealthy.
Should Food Stamps Be Restricted to Healthy Food Products?
Maine Governor Paul LePage wants to make the food stamp program more of a safety net and less of a hammock. Former Texas Senator Phil Gramm would have agreed.
Immigrants Getting More Help Than You Realize From White House
Immigrants coming to the United States are getting a free hand from the Obama Administration. And more of a free hand than you even realize.
The Minimum Wage and the Entitlement Mentality
Minimum wage increases, like welfare benefits, expand the entitlement mentality.
Upside and Downside of Investing in a myRA, Uncle Sam's Newest Savings Plan
"Don't bother with the myRA," said Giovanetti. "The myRA is touted as a safe, easy, affordable savings plan for workers -- it invests in only U.S. Treasury securities. The website brags about how there are no fees and no complications for employers, and that it's a Roth IRA."
The Medicare Part D Drug Program Is One Of Government's Most Efficient
Part D has been operating for about a decade, and it clearly defies most government program stereotypes.
Don't Bother with myRA
Today, the Treasury Department rolled out the new myRA retirement accounts with almost no fanfare. And it’s easy to see why: The myRA is a retirement savings policy embarrassment.
Budget Deal Perpetuates the Social Security Trust Fund Fiction
The budget deal perpetuates the Social Security trust fund fiction by borrowing from one trust fund that has loaned its assets for IOUs to save another trust fund which has spent its IOUs.
How Three Texas Counties Are Battling Income Inequality and Winning
The primary issue for 2016 Democratic presidential candidates appears to be economic inequality—both income and wealth. They have two solutions: raise the minimum wage and redistribute wealth. The far better solution, both for individuals and the economy, would be to let lower-income workers create and accumulate wealth.
A Quick and Easy Way to Reduce Income Inequality
The best way to address the problem of income inequality is to ensure that lower-income workers can accumulate wealth, and the best way to do that is to replace Social Security with personal retirement accounts.
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